DEFINITION OF LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:
Sometimes required, other times not, admission recommendation letters are usually written by high school counselors, teachers, and others who have first hand knowledge about a student, including his or her academic background, personality characteristics, skills, talents and potential to succeed in college.

Virtually every private college and a few public schools require one or more of the following recommendation forms:

• Secondary School Report/School Counselor form
(Usually completed by a high school counselor, but on occasion filled out by a principal/headmaster, vice-principal, or upper school director)

• Teacher Evaluation/Instructor Recommendation form
(Completed by an academic teacher who has taught a student in a regular high school class)

• Optional Recommendation form
(Usually completed by other school personnel – e.g., Deans, other teachers, coaches – employers, community service supervisors or family friends who know a student very well)

• Peer Recommendation form
(Usually completed by a good friend. Only a few colleges require this kind of recommendation)

THE BOTTOM LINE
Many college admissions applications include recommendation forms, but some don’t require or want any recommendations. For example, the University of California application flatly states, ”Do not submit recommendations unless they are specifically requested by a UC campus.”

Nearly 400 colleges utilize The Common Application that offers Secondary School Report and Teacher Evaluation forms. Information is available on the website that notes which and how many forms are required by each school.

About 90 colleges utilize the Universal College Application (UCA) that also offers School Report and Instructor Recommendation forms. Information is available on the UCA website that notes which and how many forms are required by each school.